Review of Balanchine’s “Jewels” Preformed by the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow; Presented Fathom Events, BY Experience and Pathé Live

Review of Balanchine’s “Jewels” Preformed by the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow ; Presented Fathom Events, BY Experience and Pathé Live

By: Jerry Nordquist

The Bolshoi Ballet’s HD live production of George Balanchine’s Jewels shown in theaters worldwide demonstrated, in My opinion, why they are considered the best in the world. The Bolshoi has always had the dancers and the great live orchestra required to do Balanchine right, but they have now mastered the camera and sound work to produce a stunning Jewels.

Balanchine requires fast footwork and my eyes were riveted to the feet by the way the camera men focused during Emeralds. During the short first intermission, Merrill Ashley a former New York City Ballet great, pointed out that arms and shoulders also must speed up and it all has to be done musically. In Rubies, My eyes and ears, through the camera and sound system, took it all in. Better in HD I thought, but maybe not — the wild applause seemed to stun the dancers.

The final Jewel–Diamonds–again demonstrated the great camera work, Wide angles to show the patterns Balanchine was master of and close ups of the lead couple and no cutting off the feet. A visual feast and fitting end to Jewels. Looking forward to the rest of the Bolshoi 2015-16 HD.

www.fathomevents.com

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Fathom Events, BY Experience and Pathé Live are partnering again to bring the magnificent and critically-acclaimed Jewels, performed and broadcast from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, to select cinemas nationwide on Sunday, November 15.

This opulent triptych was inspired by Balanchine’s visit to the famous jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and celebrates the cities and dance schools of Paris, New York and St. Petersburg, each bound to its own precious stone. With this first abstract ballet, Balanchine paid homage to the captivating beauty of the dance schools that had forged his style, each represented by a contrasting jewel: emerald, ruby, and diamond. Jewels offers a unique occasion to enjoy this visually captivating work, as the Bolshoi is the only company authorized by the Balanchine Trust to film and broadcast his masterpiece. Starring Olga Smirnova, Semyon Chudin, Vladislav Lantratov, Anna Tikhomirova, Ekaterina Shipulina, Ekaterina Krysanova, and the Bolshoi Corps de Ballet.